How Veeam Explorer for SQL Server works when a Socket License and Universal License are applied at the same time

[Asahi]

Hi,

I have a question in a case where a Standard edition socket license and a universal license are applied to a Veeam server at the same time.

Veeam allows you to install a socket license and a universal license on a single Veeam management server at the same time.

In this situation, using Veeam Agent for Windows, a WSFC+SQL Server machine is acquired with SQL Server transaction log backup enabled.

If I restore the DB from this backup data using Veeam Explorer for Microsoft SQL Server, will I have full functionality?
https://www.veeam.com/veeam_data_platfo ... ets_ds.pdf

Or does the Standard socket license allow only partial functionality?

My expectation is that restoring from backup data obtained using a Universal license would allow full functionality.

Kind Regards,
Asahi,
Climb Inc.

[Mildur]

Hi Iio

In the case where both VUL (Veeam Universal License) and Socket licenses are installed on the same backup server, the backup server will provide features according to your socket edition. In your case, it will be the feature set of Veeam Backup & Replication Standard Edition.

https://www.veeam.com/legal/licensing-policy.html

1.5. Combining Socket and Instance Licenses in Veeam Data Platform Products
Starting with version 10, Veeam Backup & Replication allows installing separate Socket and Instance License Keys at the same time without prior merging of keys at the customer portal. The following conditions will apply:

- Both Socket and Instance licenses are valid product licenses
- Company name matches between licenses
- Socket License Key will define the Support level, Support ID and Product Edition
- Only one Socket and one Instance License Key can be installed into the product at the same time
- Sockets will only protect VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V VMs

Thanks,
Fabian

[Asahi]

Hi Fabian,

Thank you for reply.

I tried this in a test lab and got different results.

First, we installed the Standard Socket License and Universal License on a Veeam v12 server.

Then we first registered VMware vSphere and created an agentless backup job.
At this time, the SQL Server transaction log backup item in the AAIP options is grayed out and a message is logged that Enterprise edition or higher is required.
And when I backed up, I could see that the socket license was consumed because the license was counted against the VMware vSphere host.

From that backup data in this state, I ran Veeam Explorer for SQL Server.
Except for the Export and Publish functions, I was unable to use them with the message that I needed an Enterprise or higher license.
So far, I think the link you sent me is correct.

However, I then registered the machine with SQL Server installed to Protection Group and installed Veeam Agent for Windows.
When I create a backup job from the Veeam console under Managed by backup server, I can use the SQL Server transaction log backup settings.
This is because a Universal license is consumed, not a Standard socket license.
In fact, the license screen shows that an instance was consumed.

Then, when I started Veeam Explorer for SQL Server from the backup data obtained using Veeam Agent for Windows, all functions were available.

Does this mean that this is an unintended behavior of Veeam?
Could you test this in your environment?

Kind Regards,
Asahi,
Climb Inc.

[Asahi]

Hi Fabian,

I noticed something interesting in the Veeam Explore for Microsoft SQL Server logs.

First, when restoring from agent-less backup data taken with a Standard license, only the Standard license is loaded, as shown below.

===
[15.10.2024 16:28:20.687] 1 (9508) Initializing license information...
[15.10.2024 16:28:20.751] 1 (9508) Product edition obtained: Veeam Backup and Replication - Standard
[15.10.2024 16:28:23.282] 13 (7548) Validating SQL Server connection settings...
===

However, look at the logs when restoring from backup data obtained using Veeam Agent for Windows.
The Universal (Server) license is loaded along with the Standard license.
===
[15.10.2024 09:46:29.654] 1 (8876) Initializing license information...
[15.10.2024 09:46:29.701] 1 (8876) Product edition obtained: Veeam Backup and Replication - Standard
[15.10.2024 09:46:29.764] 1 (8876) Product edition obtained: Veeam Agent for Windows - Server (restore point ID: b74b736d-0af1-4a3f-9695-f58bfb209323)
[15.10.2024 09:46:29.991] 13 (10152) Validating SQL Server connection settings...
===

Does this mean that this is unintended behavior of Veeam?

Kind Regards,
Asahi,
Climb Inc.

[Mildur]

Hi Asahi

Please give me some time to verify the correct behavior.

Thanks,
Fabian

[Asahi]

Hi Fabian,

Thank you for reply.

OK, I will wait to hear from you.

Kind Regards,
Asahi

[Asahi]

Hi,

Do you have any update?

Kind Regards,
Asahi,
Climb Inc.

[Mildur]

Hello Asahi,

Yes, I received confirmation from our QA team last Friday evening. What you are seeing is expected behavior.
If you have installed a VUL together with a Socket Standard license, the agent will use the feature set of the VUL license.
This means you will have access to transaction log backups and advanced restore options for your agent backups.

Best,
Fabian

[Asahi]

Hi Fabian,

Thank you for reply.

I am very happy to confirm that it works as expected!:)

Kind Regards,
Asahi.